Lee Evans plays the head of the Martin family, Robert in this low-budget Brit 'comedy'. The director and screenwriter, Tony Grounds, manages to squander Evans's Chaplinesque talents, and comedic grossness of the female lead, his wife (played by the talented Kathy Burke) who palyed to great effect in another low-budget Brit movie "This Year's Love".
There are no funny quips, no amusing side-plots and no opportunities for Evans to show off his amazing face-pulling and physical humour which was used so well in the Hollywood 'Mousetrap'.
The screenplay is a mean-spirited view of lower-class life in Hatfield, an innocuous, middle-England new town which is depicted herein as a hot-bed of scum and low-life.
The characters are almost too realistic in that respect, but have no redeeming features or quirks that make them appealing. See, for example Mike Leigh's "Life Is Sweet" starring Alison Steadman for an example of how it can be done successfully.
I have seen Evans live on stage, and I know how good he can be, and how much the UK public adore his self-depreciating candour. He swears a lot as a matter of course, but this film contains at least 20 minutes of "f***ing" out of its 86 minutes running time, and even manages a "c**t" for good measure (written down as well just in case you missed the verbal expletive.)
Highlights of the film: - 14-year old daughter giving birth on the toilet - Lee Evans pulling a gun on his son's teacher and saying 'I hate f****ing teachers' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on an elderly rich couple and saying 'I hate f****ing rich old people' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on a newspaper editor and saying 'I hate f****ing liars' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on his next door neighbour and saying 'I f****ing hate people who look down on me' - Next door neighbour on the other side saying 'You f****ed me last week and I've told my husband' - etc. etc.
Lee has reportedly said that he was looking forward to shedding the mullet hair cut and burning it on the film's completion. I should think he is also looking forward to burning all the prints of the film...
A Smith London UK
There are no funny quips, no amusing side-plots and no opportunities for Evans to show off his amazing face-pulling and physical humour which was used so well in the Hollywood 'Mousetrap'.
The screenplay is a mean-spirited view of lower-class life in Hatfield, an innocuous, middle-England new town which is depicted herein as a hot-bed of scum and low-life.
The characters are almost too realistic in that respect, but have no redeeming features or quirks that make them appealing. See, for example Mike Leigh's "Life Is Sweet" starring Alison Steadman for an example of how it can be done successfully.
I have seen Evans live on stage, and I know how good he can be, and how much the UK public adore his self-depreciating candour. He swears a lot as a matter of course, but this film contains at least 20 minutes of "f***ing" out of its 86 minutes running time, and even manages a "c**t" for good measure (written down as well just in case you missed the verbal expletive.)
Highlights of the film: - 14-year old daughter giving birth on the toilet - Lee Evans pulling a gun on his son's teacher and saying 'I hate f****ing teachers' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on an elderly rich couple and saying 'I hate f****ing rich old people' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on a newspaper editor and saying 'I hate f****ing liars' - Lee Evans pulling a gun on his next door neighbour and saying 'I f****ing hate people who look down on me' - Next door neighbour on the other side saying 'You f****ed me last week and I've told my husband' - etc. etc.
Lee has reportedly said that he was looking forward to shedding the mullet hair cut and burning it on the film's completion. I should think he is also looking forward to burning all the prints of the film...
A Smith London UK